Baseball and miniature golf apparatus



s/0. waff/w Zlwwey 3 Sheets-Sheet l P. W- CHIODO BASEBALL AND MINIATURE GOLF APPARATUS Nov, 18, 1952 Flled Nov. 16, 1948 NGV 18, Fl BASEBALL AND MINIATURE GOLF APPARATUS Filed NOV. 16, 1948 Nov. 18, 1952 P. w. cHloDo BASEBALL AND MINIATURE GOLF APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16. 1948 /7 f/f f/ MAF LA A @A A. @Af AA Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATS PATE'LNT CFFICE BASEBALL AND MINIATURE GOLFl APPARATUS 2 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus. One object is to provide a game which combines the features of baseball and miniature golf. A further object of the invention is to provide a game of the character above set forth that can be played indoors or out of doors, that will have all the advantages of golf, on a miniature scale, and that will afford amusement and exercise for adults as well as for children. The nature of the invention, together with its many other objects and advantages will be better understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a playing field constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a ball delivery chute.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevational view showing a ball raising mechanism arranged in one of the ball paths of the playing field substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view clearly illustrating one of the hazards forming part of the invention, taken on the line 4-4`of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view illustrating another of the hazards and taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a, sectional elevational view illustrating another hazard forming part of the invention and taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the ball chute on the line I-- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view illustrating another of the hazards forming part of the invention, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a wicket forming a part of one of the hazards.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, particular attention being directed to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the playing field somewhat in the nature of a baseball diamond includes base path 5 together with a path 6 leading from the home base into the infield and terminating in an enlarged somewhat circular portion symbolic of what is known in baseball as a pitchers box and designated by reference character l.

The parts of the playing eld thus enumerated are preferably constructed of cement 8 arranged in a frame structure of wood or similar material 9. The paths are of suitable width and the playing field is preferably set up on a lawn or at any desired location out of doors with the 2 area surrounded by the base paths being platted with grass to simulate the infield of a baseball field.

Instead of the usual bases there is provided at the Junction of the base path, for the purpose of bringing into the game certain features of golf, a hole Ill within which is arranged an open ended cylinder II having operable therein a reciprocable piston I2 for elevating the ball so that the same may be teed to be driven to the next hole.

Suitable mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the piston I2 and as shown in Fig. 3, such mechanism consists in the present instance, of a lever I3 pivoted intermediate its ends to a hanger I4, the hanger and lever being arranged in well I5 suitably provided in the ground beneath the surface of the ground. The lever I3 is pivotally connected with the piston I2 through the medium of a link I6 and at its free end has a loose connection II with a vertically movable foot pedal I8 operable in a guide I9 provided therefor.

Manifestly, to raise a ball that has dropped into the hole I0 the pedal I8 is depressed by foot causing lever I3 and link I6 to move the piston I2 upwardly flush with the surface of the base path whereupon the ball may be driven along same.

Arranged on the base path 5 between the holes I0 are suitable hazards as for ,example a hazard 2I, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, which consists of vertical spaced posts 22 connected by horizontal bars 23, and it will be found in actual practice that considerable skill will be required in order to drive a ball along the path 5 between two adjacent posts 22 without the ball being driven against one of the posts ybefore such success is attained. In Fig. 5 I have shown another form of hazard which in this instance consists of two hingedly mounted gates 24 opposed posts 25 being provided for hingedly supporting the gates.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a somewhat conventional garden wicket 2G and a row of such may be placed across the base path 5 as for example between the holes indicative of the home plate and the hole indicative of iirst base. On the path B and extending for substantially the full length thereof is arranged a ball chute which leads from the pitchers box I to the hole I0 located at that part of the playing iield as would, in the case of baseball, be located the home plate. The ball chute is substantially U-shaped and includes an upper inclined part 21 substantially channel shaped in cross section for the major portion of its length and supported by relatively spaced standards 28. The ball chute also includes a lower or bottom part 29 that for substantially half of its length is channel shaped in cross section and at its end terminates in operative position to the hole I9 that is aligned With the path 6.

The bight and=portion of the parts 21 and 29 of the chute are substantially tubular in cross section as at 39 so as to guide a ball 20 in its course from the upper part 2'! to the lower part 29.

Obviously a ball placed in the upper end of the part 21 will by gravity roll down said part a party stationed near the discharge end of the path 29 and provided with a suitable golf` club' as for example a putterfstrike the ball while the sameA is in motion andimmediately upon its dischargel from the 'ball chute, the-object, purpose and intent being to drive the ball along the base bath 5 in adirection toward the right in Fig. l-to the'rst hole Il):y

When aplayer has `been successful in sinking the Vball into the lfirsthole I 0, he, or-another player depresses'the-pedal I8 to actuate the piston I2 of thatv particular hole to raisethe ball to thesurface'of the pathl'r whereupon the vplayer drives the ball over the path 5 to the next-hole I0, play beingH continued in` this manner' until a player has negotiated oneY round trip. b'- viously the rulesof thegame may be as desired by theplayers, as* for example the one may be declared the winner whoV has`v negotiated all of the holes with the leastenumber ofstrokes; or in the shortest period of time, or as otherwise may be found desirable.

To further add'to thev attractiveness of the game. and torender the same more similar to golf, there may be arrangedin thepath f holes 3l forming water or sand traps as may be found desirable.

Also; anotherY type of; hazard which I have found requires a great deal of skill to negotiate ssuch'as suggested in Fig; 8 whereinl have shown threel relatively Lspaced 'open`4 ended tubes 32 and which are elongated lengthwise of the path"5 the object beirg to drive the ball through or' between the` tubes;

It is' thought' that from'- the' foregoing de scription, taken in connection with the` accompanying drawings' that a clear understanding of the'construction, as well as the purpose, ob-

4 ject and intent of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of changes, modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game device of the character' described comprising: a playing surface shaped in the form of a baseball diamond comprising a home plate, first, second'and third base, and a pitchers box, said playing surface further comprising a playing path having a paved surface joining said home plate and all 0f said bases in the order named and having a ball receiving aperture therein at home plate and at each of said bases; and ball delivery means comprising a ball guiding portion extending from said home plate to said pitchers boxrand back to said home platef said ball delivery means furthercornprising-a portionr adjacent tosaidhomeplate whereina ball travel;r

ing along said guidingportion from saidpitcherfs-1 box` toward said home plate will be clearly visi-- ble to a player standing at said homeplate, said ball guiding portion being directed to deliver said ball ina -path of travel `on said playing surface,-

crossing said paved playing path'- atv-a portiony thereof adjacent vto home-plate,-

2. A game device according to claim--1,frthercomprisingV at leastl one obstacledisposed ini said playing path,` wherebyV greater skill is'required to play a ball from a position adjacent oneiofv said ball receiving apertures along said path-and into another such aperture."

PHILLIP WlLLIAM C'rIIODO:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are' of record in' the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- Name Date K '769,286 Zeip Sept. 6, 1904` 890,104 IIerry June 9, 1908-v 1,266,271 Hunt Mayll, 1918 1,283,653 Buck Nov.' 5,11918 1,296,882 Vance Mar. '11, 1919" 1,508,117 Niemeyerv Sept. 9, 1924 1,545,329 Johnston July 7', 1925 1,545,959 Huyler July 14, 1925 1,783,089 Hokin NOV. 25,1930 1,845,531 Terry Feb. 16, 193$2` 1,952,113 Beckett Mar. 2'7, 1934" 

